And a Great Producer Would Sit Up and Sign Them

Sentimentalists that we are, we're delighted when a behind-the-scenes guy gets his due, especially when he serves up a heart-rending story.

So you may imagine our pleasure at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf-Astoria on Monday night, when SEYMOUR STEIN, founder of Sire Records, was honored with a lifetime achievement award.

Mr. Stein, 62 and bald but for a circle of white hair, is credited with discovering and signing MADONNA, the Pretenders and the Ramones. We run into him at all hours of the night in small clubs, sitting among teenagers in his PERRY COMO-style sweaters. After accepting his award, Mr. Stein was teary-eyed, which is, as JANET MALCOLM knows, just the way we like them.

We asked Mr. Stein to tell us something about Madonna we didn't know.

"I thought she was special when I first saw her," Mr. Stein said. "I especially remember when she came to see me at the hospital when it was time to sign her first contract. I had been walking around in my hospital pajamas, opened back, hadn't shaved, hadn't washed..."

Our reply: And interrupt the flow of an anecdote about a superstar from an emotionally unguarded source?!!! That would be nuts! If you learn nothing else from us, remember this: Never interrupt the flow of a good story, got it? Never ever, ever, ever!

Where were we? Oh yes, Mr. Stein, record producer, is in the hospital. "...hadn't shaved, hadn't washed. When I heard she was coming, I got my barber to come up. Got the good pajamas. She didn't even notice. She could have cared less. I felt if I was laying in a coffin, she would have waved the papers in front of me."

Hit it, MR. SEGUE MAN!!! Among those at the Waldorf-Astoria, BONO, who was inducted with U2; DAN AYKROYD sitting with B.B. KING; ROD STEWART; RICHARD GERE and CAREY LOWELL; MARIAH CAREY, who went to the table where her former husband, TOMMY MOTTOLA, sat with his wife, the singer THALIA. They shook hands (Mr. Mottola and Ms. Carey we mean) and had a brief chat.

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BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, who inducted U2, was clean-shaven but for a soul patch under his lower lip; ELVIS-like sideburns, and a sort of COSMO KRAMER fluff-up, which we've noticed is in vogue among boomer rockers.

WALTER WILLIAMS, who was inducted into the Hall of Fame with his group, the O'Jays, wore a black mink coat and a mink Stetson. The outfit was a rental. But the group may have a new life since "For the Love of Money" became the theme song for "The Apprentice," though they're hardly living like DONALD TRUMP.

"I'm watching TV one night and I hear our song," Mr. Williams said. 'That sounds like me, I said to myself. I check it out and it is us. But we're not getting paid. The song and the show's about money, but we're not getting any. I made a few calls and right now we're in federal court with the record company, Philadelphia International."

Though KENNY GAMBLE and LEON HUFF, chairman and vice-chairman of Philadelphia International Records, attended the Hall of Fame induction, they declined, through a spokesman, to discuss the case. CHUCK GAMBLE, the company's executive vice president, talked to us but did not want to discuss the lawsuit.

Isn't it odd that Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff attended the induction ceremony of fellows who are suing them?

"When it comes to our artists and the great music, we don't let a court matter stop us from the great music," Chuck Gamble said. "When you're dealing with the music industry, these guys Gamble and Huff rise above the occasion."

"I'm not in the position to talk about contracts with all the artists," Mr. Gamble said. "It is unfortunate that statement was made. I can't talk about specific litigation pending. Our comment is we're excited about them getting into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame." With Joe Brescia